Captain of Afghan cricket team has come a long way from refugee camp to World Cup debut

CANBERRA, Australia – Mohammad Nabi has come a long way from the refugee camps of central Asia where he, along with other children displaced by war, whiled away the hours playing cricket.

The 30-year-old captain of Afghanistan's national cricket team knows he will carry the expectations of supporters in his war-torn homeland on Wednesday when he leads his lineup into its first World Cup match in the 50-over format.

The Afghan team goes into the match as underdogs against Bangladesh, another relative newcomer to the elite level in cricket.

Just getting to compete on the manicured grass of Manuka Oval in the Australian capital Canberra is an achievement against the odds for Nabi's team.